Aerosol type applicator for body cavity



Oct. 27, 1964 w, R. ODONNELL 3,154,076

AEROSOL TYPE APPLICATOR FOR BODY CAVITY Filed July 5. 1962 INVENTORWLlLam 1?..O`Donne1l United States Patent() 3,154,076 AERSOL TYPEAPPLICATGR FOR BODY CAVHTY Wiliam R. UDonnell, Trumbull, Conn., assignorto Valve Corporation of America, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation ofDelaware Filed .lilly 3, 1962, Ser. No. 267,365 4 Claims. (Ci. 12S- 269)This invention relates to applicator devices, and more particularly toapplicators intended to deposit a measured amount of fluid substance ina body cavity.

Heretofore various types of fluid applicator devices intended for theabove purpose have been proposed and produced. While the producedarticles have operated in a manner to give generally satisfactoryservice, they did not function to provide repeated doses in the mostconvenient manner and with the utmost reliability.

The above disadvantages of prior applicator devices have been obviatedby the present invention, and one object of the invention is to providea novel and improved aerosol type applicator device which may always berelied on to provide relatively accurately measured doses of the aerosolsubstance.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved aerosolapplicator device as above set forth, which will give many repeateddoses or injections of the aerosol substance, all characterized by afull measure or accurate quantity as required.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved aerosolapplicator as outlined, wherein the utmost .convenience is had ineffecting the applications.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel aerosolapplicator of the kind set forth, which is sanitary and safe to use. y

Features of the invention reside in the provision of an improvedapplicator device embodying an aerosol dispenser, Which is simple tounderstand and to operate, involves relatively few parts, and iseconomical to fabricate and produce.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this speciiicatiaon, similar characters ofreference are used to designate like components throughout the severalviews, in which:

FIG. l is an axial sectional view of the novel aerosol type applicatoras provided by the invention, incorporating a pressurized valved aerosolcontainer. The device is shown in its inoperative position.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the applicator device, illustratingthe actuation thereof to discharge a measured quantity of fluidsubstance from the aerosol container, prior to applying the applicatorto the body cavity.

FIG. 3 is an axial sectional View of the applicator after it has beenapplied to the body cavity and operated to eject the measured quantityof aerosol substance into the cavity.

Prior to giving a detailed description of the construction of theapplicator, a brief explanation willbe given of the novel mode ofoperation. Prior to the applicator being inserted in the` bodypcavity itis initially actuated by the user to discharge or set out a measuredquantity of fluid substance (preferably a foam) from the aerosolcontainer into a temporary storage chamber of the applicator. Suchstorage chamber is completely lled with ICC the fluid substance or foam,and has transparent Walls whereby the filled condition may be readilyobserved. After filling of the temporary storage chamber is cornpleted,the applicator is applied to or inserted in the body cavity, andthereafter actuated in a manner different from the iirst actuation, tonow discharge the uid substance from the temporary storage chamber intothe body cavity. Such actuation eventually completely empties thestorage chamber whereby the measured quantity which it has held iscompletely transferred to the body cavity. The applicator device isthereafter withdrawn from the cavity, with the discharged iiuidsubstance or foam retained in the cavity. After a simple cleansing ofthe applicator device it is again in readiness for use at a later time,as needed.

Considering now the novel constructional details of the applicatordevice, the invention provides a tubular holder member indicatedgener-ally by the numeral 16, said holder having an apertured endportion 12 constituted as a plunger and adapted to receive and carry thevalved end 14 of a pressurized aerosol container or dispenser 16 in sucha manner that discharge of the aerosol substance or foam therefrom maybe effected through an end opening 18 in the plunger portion 12 of theholder. The outer or rear end of the holder 10 is provided with anannular external ange 17 to facilitate the operation of the device, aswill be later brought out. The holder 19 may be constituted of anysuitable material, that preferred at present being molded plasticsubstance such as polyethylene or similar formulations. The pressurizedaerosol container 16 is preferably formed of metal, such as aluminum orthe like.

The tubular holder 10 has a body portion 20 of diameter larger than theplunger portion 12, there being an annular shoulder 22 between the twoportions to connect these. At its front end the plunger portion 12 ofthe holder has a rounded tip 24 provided with an annular groove ordisplaced configuration 26. A hollow boss 23 at the inside of therounded end portion 24 receives the valve stem 30 of the aerosoldispenser, such stem controlling a conventional valve means (not shown)in the dispenser portion 14 in such a manner that discharge of theaerosol substance takes place through the hollow stem 30 when the latteris depressed or relatively moved from left to right as viewed in thefigures.

Such discharge may be readily effected by applying finger pressure tothe outer or rear end wall 32 of the container 15 in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 2, so as to shift the dispenser from right to left.The extent of shifting movement is limited by an annular shoulder 34 ofthe dispenser, which engages the inner surface of the annular shoulder22 of the holder 10.

Cooperable with the plunger portion 12 of the holder 1t) is an elongatetubular cylinder member 36 having a bore 38 in which the aperturedplunger 12 is received and in which it is reciprocable. The cylindermember 36 is also preferably constituted of molded plastic substance,such `as rigid acetate or butyrate plastic or similar formulations. Alsothe cylinder member 36 is preferably formed of clear plastic whereby itis completely transparent to enable the user to view the inside space ofthe member.

The cylinder member 36 has handle means at one end, in the form of anannular external flange 42, such auge being sufficiently wide to enableit to be readily grasped.

The cylinder member 36 is adapated for insertion in the body cavity whenheld by the handle means 42, and has a rounded end or tip 44 tofacilitate such insertion, said rounded tip having an annular externalgroove or displaced configuration 46 arranged to enable a closelyfitting or nesting relationship to occur between the co1- respondingends of the cylinder member and plunger portion respectively, asillustrated in FIG. 3.

Combined movement limiting or stop means and packing means are providedon the cylinder member 36 and the plunger portion 12, these beingpreferably in the form of cooperable annular internal and external beads48 and 50, located respectively on the member 36 and the plunger portion12. As seen in FIG. l, the beads 48 and 50 when in engagement with eachother normally prevent removal of the cylinder member 36 from theplunger portion 12 of the holder member 10. The beads 48 and 5() furthereffect a positioning of the cylinder member 36 on the plunger portion 12whereby there may exist a temporary storage chamber 54, FIG. l, in thecylinder member beyond the tip portion 24 of the plunger 12.Communication is had with the said chamber 54 through the front opening18 of the plunger portion 12 whereby the pressurized aerosol substancefrom the dispenser 16 may be discharged to fill the chamber 54 uponsuitable actuation of the dispenser, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Suchactuation, as aforesaid, involves applying finger pressure to the outerend of the dispenser 16 to shift the latter from right to left into thedischarging position as determined by engagement between the shoulders22 and 34.

The front end portion 44 of the cylinder member 36 is provided with aplurality of discharge openings 56 communicating with the temporarystorage chamber 54, Whereby the contents of such chamber may bedischarged from the cylinder member to the exterior of the latter, orinto the body cavity.

When a user actuates the aerosol dispenser 16 as illustrated in FIG. 2,she observes the filling of the temporary storage chamber 54 and removespressure from the dispenser 16 in time to prevent appreciable dischargeof fluid substance from the openings 56 While at the same time makingsure that the entire chamber 54 is completely filled with the substance.The user now inserts the applicator, specifically the cylinder memberportion 36 thereof, in the body cavity by holding such member at theannular flange 42, making sure to position the cylinder member in thefully inserted position as shown. Thereafter, the user applies thefinger pressure to the annular flange 17 of the holder to effect ashifting of the same in a right-to-left direction as viewed in thefigures, causing the plunger portion 12 thereof to be fully received inthe cylinder member 36 and causing a final ejection of the fiuidsubstance which has been initially discharged into the temporary storagechamber S4. This operation is illustrated clearly in FIG. 3 and involvesrelative movement between the holder 10 and cylinder member 36 while theaerosol dispenser 16 remains relatively immovable in the holder,occupying its non-discharging position as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and3.

Upon the final ejection of the fluid substance from the cylinder member36, the applicator device is withdrawn from the body cavity and theexterior surfaces cleansed in any suitable manner. The device is then inreadiness' for a subsequent use.

If desired, the cylinder member 36 may be completely removed from theholder 10 by forcing the internal and external beads 48, 50 past eachother, whereupon a more thorough cleaning of the cylinder member 36 maybe effected in any desired manner.

The member 36 is then replaced on the holder 10 to the positionillustrated in FIG. 1. Or, the cylinder member 36 may occupy theposition shown in FIG. 3 for storage purposes, until such time as theapplicator device is to be again placed in use.

It will now be seen from the foregoing that I have provided an improvedaerosol type applicator device for use in placing measured quantities offluid substance in a body cavity. The present applicator when properlyoperated will always provide the desired measured amount or dose of theaerosol substance, for injection in the cavity. Further, many repeateddoses or injections of the aerosol substance may be had, depending onthe capacity of the aerosol dispenser 16, each such repeated dose beingcharacterized by a full measure or accurate quantity of the fluidsubstance.

It may be now understood that the applicator device enables such dosesto be injected with the utmost convenience and ease. Further, theapplicator device is sanitary, may be easily and thoroughly cleaned, andaccordingly is safe to use. Moreover, the device is simple to understandand operate, and involves relatively few parts whereby it is economicalto fabricate and produce. Because of its low cost, it may be completelydiscarded or thrown away when the last fluid substance is obtained fromthe dispenser 16, without involving appreciable waste.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims,and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. An aerosol-type applicator for discharging a predetermined quantityof fluid material into a body cavity, comprising in combination:

(a) an aerosol dispenser including an elongate tubular pressurizedcontainer and an axially movable and depressible valve stern at one endof the container,

(b) a tubular holder having an open end and having an elongate plungerincluding at the opposite end of the holder an apertured end portionconstituted as part of the said plunger,

(c) the apertured end portion of the holder having means engageable andcooperable with the valve stem of the pressurized container to open thevalve when the container is shifted inward in the holder,

(d) said holder Wholly receiving and carrying the valved end of thepressurized container and also a large fraction part of the latterwhereby a discharge of aerosol substance from the dispenser out throughthe said apertured plunger end portion may be effected by relativemovement between the plunger and pressurized container,

(e) an elongate cylinder member having a bore in which the aperturedplunger end and elongate plunger are closely, slidably received and inwhich the plunger is reciprocable, said cylinder member having handlemeans at one end and being adapted for insertion in the body cavity whenheld by said handle means',

(f) the other end of said cylinder member having a rounded exterior andan orifice through which the substance discharged from the pressurizedcontainer and plunger end may be ejected when the said plunger end andplunger of the holder are advanced further into the cylinder member,

(g) said holder having a body portion within which the remainingfractional part of the pressurized container is substantially whollycontained,

(h) said holder having at its open end a handle ange extendingsubstantially radially outward,

(i) the outer end of the pressurized container being closely juxtaposedto the said handle ange toenable it to be conveniently engagedsimultaneously with the handle flange by the fingers of the user,

(j) said holder comprising a close-fitting guide for the container,restricting movement of the latter to an axial direction within theholder and preventing all sidewise movement of the container,

(k) a stop shoulder on the interior of the holder, for engagement with aportion of the dispenser to halt the movement of the same and thecontainer thereof when these reach the discharge position.

2. An aerosol applicator as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the stop shoulder of the holder has an outer, back surfaceengageable with the handle end of the cylinder member to constitute astop which establishes the limit of advance movement of the said plungerend.

3. An aerosol applicator as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the apertured end of the holder is bulbous,

(b) the interior of the said other end of the cylinder member is concaveto provide a close t for the bulbous apertured end of Athe holder.

4. An aerosol applicator as in claim 3, wherein:

(a) the bulbous end of the holder and the said other end of the cylindermember have annular mating displaced congurations, and

(b) the orice of the cylinder member is disposed in the annularconfiguration thereof.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ColvinDec. 29, 1936 Countryman Sept. 18, 1956 Cohen Feb. 14, 1961 WittlingerJune 6, 1961 Walden et al June 19, 1962 Gorman Dec. 11, 1962 Laws Sept.24, 1963

1. AN AEROSOL-TYPE APPLICATOR FOR DISCHARGING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITYOF FLUID MATERIAL INTO A BODY CAVITY, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) ANAEROSOL DISPENSER INCLUDING AN ELONGATE TUBULAR PRESSURIZED CONTAINERAND AN AXIALLY MOVABLE AND DEPRESSIBLE VALVE STEM AT ONE END OF THECONTAINER, (B) A TUBULAR HOLDER HAVING AN OPEN END AND HAVING ANELONGATE PLUNGER INCLUDING AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE HOLDER ANAPERTURED END PORTION CONSTITUTED AS PART OF THE SAID PLUNGER, (C) THEAPERTURED END PORTION OF THE HOLDER HAVING MEANS ENGAGEABLE ANDCOOPERABLE WITH THE VALVE STEM OF THE PRESSURIZED CONTAINER TO OPEN THEVALVE WHEN THE CONTAINER IS SHIFTED INWARD IN THE HOLDER, (D) SAIDHOLDER WHOLLY RECEIVING AND CARRYING THE VALVED END OF THE PRESSURIZEDCONTAINER AND ALSO A LARGE FRACTION PART OF THE LATTER WHEREBY ADISCHARGE OF AEROSOL SUBSTANCE FROM THE DISPENSER OUT THROUGH THE SAIDAPERTURED PLUNGER END PORTION MAY BE EFFECTED BY RELATIVE MOVEMENTBETWEEN THE PLUNGER AND PRESSURIZED CONTAINER, (E) AN ELONGATE CYLINDERMEMBER HAVING A BORE IN WHICH THE APERTURED PLUNGER END AND ELONGATEPLUNGER ARE CLOSELY, SLIDABLY RECEIVED AND IN WHICH THE PLUNGER ISRECIPROCABLE, SAID CYLINDER MEMBER HAVING HANDLE MEANS AT ONE END ANDBEING ADAPTED FOR INSERTION IN THE BODY CAVITY WHEN HELD BY SAID HANDLEMEANS, (F) THE OTHER END OF SAID CYLINDER MEMBER HAVING A ROUNDEDEXTERIOR AND AN ORIFICE THROUGH WHICH THE SUBSTANCE DISCHARGED FROM THEPRESSURIZED CONTAINER AND PLUNGER END MAY BE EJECTED WHEN THE SAIDPLUNGER END AND PLUNGER OF THE HOLDER ARE ADVANCED FURTHER INTO THECYLINDER MEMBER, (G) SAID HOLDER HAVING A BODY PORTION WITHIN WHICH THEREMAINING FRACTIONAL PART OF THE PRESSURIZED CONTAINER IS SUBSTANTIALLYWHOLLY CONTAINED, (H) SAID HOLDER HAVING AT ITS OPEN END A HANDLE FLANGEEXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY RADIALLY OUTWARD, (I) THE OUTER END OF THEPRESSURIZED CONTAINER BEING CLOSELY JUXTAPOSED TO THE SAID HANDLE FLANGETO ENABLE IT TO BE CONVENIENTLY ENGAGED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE HANDLEFLANGE BY THE FINGERS OF THE USER, (J) SAID HOLDER COMPRISING ACLOSE-FITTING GUIDE FOR THE CONTAINER, RESTRICTING MOVEMENT OF THELATTER TO AN AXIAL DIRECTION WITHIN THE HOLDER AND PREVENTING ALLSIDEWISE MOVEMENT OF THE CONTAINER, (K) A STOP SHOULDER ON THE INTERIOROF THE HOLDER, FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A PORTION OF THE DISPENSER TO HALTTHE MOVEMENT OF THE SAME AND THE CONTAINER THEREOF WHEN THESE REACH THEDISCHARGE POSITION.